Abelia plant named ‘Rika 1’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Abelia  plant named ‘Rika 1’, characterized by its upright and somewhat outwardly spreading plant habit; freely branching habit; dense and bushy growth habit; leaves that are initially copper-bronze in color becoming yellow green or green in color with development; white-colored flowers; and good garden performance.

Botanical designation: Abelia×grandiflora.

Cultivar denomination: ‘Rika 1’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Abelia, botanically known as Abelia×grandiflora and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘Rika 1’.

The new Abelia is a naturally-occurring branch mutation of an unnamed selection of Abelia×grandiflora, not patented. The new Abelia was discovered and selected by the Inventor in June, 2003 in a controlled outdoor nursery environment in Hempstead, N.Y.

Asexual reproduction of the new Abelia plant by softwood cuttings in a controlled greenhouse environment in Grand Haven, Mich. since May, 2004 has shown that the unique features of this new Abelia plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations of asexual reproduction.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Abelia have not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environment and cultural practices such as temperature and light intensity without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘Rika 1’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘Rika 1’ as a new and distinct cultivar of Abelia:

-   -   1. Upright and somewhat outwardly spreading plant habit.     -   2. Freely branching habit; dense and bushy growth habit.     -   3. Leaves that are initially copper-bronze in color becoming         yellow green or green in color with development.     -   4. White-colored flowers.     -   5. Good garden performance.

Plants of the new Abelia can be compared to plants of the parent selection. Plants of the new Abelia differ from plants of the parent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Developing leaves of plants of the new Abelia are         copper-bronze in color whereas developing leaves of plants of         the parent selection are faintly copper-bronze in color.     -   2. Fully developed leaves of plants of the new Abelia are yellow         green or green in color whereas fully developed leaves of plants         of the parent selection are green in color.

Plants of the new Abelia can be compared to plants of the Abelia×grandiflora ‘Minipan’, not patented. In side-by-side comparisons conducted in Grand Haven, Mich., plants of the new Abelia differed from plants of ‘Minipan’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Abelia were more vigorous than plants of         ‘Minipan’.     -   2. Developing leaves of plants of the new Abelia were copper         bronze in color whereas developing leaves of plants of ‘Minipan’         were yellow gold in color.     -   3. Fully developed leaves of plants of the new Abelia were         yellow green or green in color whereas fully developed leaves of         plants of ‘Minipan’ were green and gold in color.     -   4. Plants of the new Abelia were more freely flowering than         plants of ‘Minipan’.

Plants of the new Abelia can also be compared to plants of the Abelia×grandiflora ‘Francis Mason’, not patented. In side-by-side comparisons conducted in Grand Haven, Mich., plants of the new Abelia differed from plants of ‘Francis Mason’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Developing leaves of plants of the new Abelia were copper         bronze in color whereas developing leaves of plants of ‘Francis         Mason’ were slightly copper bronze in color.     -   2. Fully developed leaves of plants of the new Abelia were         yellow green or green in color whereas fully developed leaves of         plants of ‘Francis Mason’ were yellow green and gold in color;         leaf color of plants of ‘Francis Mason’ becoming green in color         with development.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearance of the new Abelia, showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors of the new Abelia.

The photograph at the bottom of the first sheet is a side perspective view of a typical plant of ‘Rika 1’ grown in an outdoor nursery.

The photograph at the top of the first sheet is a close-up view of typical leaves of ‘Rika 1’.

The photograph on the second sheet is a close-up view of typical flower buds and flowers of ‘Rika 1’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs and following observations, measurements and values describe plants grown in Grand Haven, Mich. during the spring and summer in an outdoor nursery and under conditions which closely approximate commercial production. Plants had been growing for four years when the photographs and the description were taken. In the description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 1995 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Abelia×grandiflora ‘Rika 1’. -   Parentage: Naturally-occurring branch mutation of an unnamed     selection of Abelia×grandiflora, not patented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—By softwood cuttings.         -   Time to initiate roots.—About 20 days at 24° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant.—About three months at             24° C.         -   Root description.—Fine.         -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching; dense. -   Plant description:     -   -   Plant form and growth habit.—Perennial shrub. Upright and             somewhat outwardly spreading plant habit. Vigorous growth             habit.         -   Branching habit.—Freely branching habit, dense and bushy             growth habit, usually about 18 lateral branches develop per             plant.         -   Plant height.—About 31 cm.         -   Plant diameter (area of spread).—About 54 cm. -   Lateral branch description:     -   -   Length.—About 23 cm.         -   Diameter.—About 2.5 mm.         -   Internode length.—About 3 cm to 5 cm.         -   Aspect.—About 35° to 40° from vertical.         -   Texture.—Slightly pubescent.         -   Color, immature.—Close to 46A.         -   Color, mature.—Close to 199B. -   Foliage description:     -   -   Arrangement.—Opposite, simple.         -   Length.—About 3.2 cm.         -   Width.—About 1.7 cm.         -   Shape.—Ovate.         -   Apex.—Acute.         -   Base.—Obtuse.         -   Margin.—Slightly crenate.         -   Texture, upper and lower surfaces.—Smooth, glabrous.         -   Venation pattern.—Pinnate.         -   Color.—Developing leaves, upper surface: Close to 164A.             Developing leaves, lower surface: Between 164A and 151A.             Fully expanded leaves, upper surface: Close to 151A or 137A;             venation, similar to leaf surface color. Fully expanded             leaves, lower surface: Close to 151A or 137D; venation,             similar to leaf surface color.         -   Petiole.—Length: About 4 mm. Diameter: About 1.5 mm.             Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color,             upper and lower surfaces: Close to 46B. -   Flower description:     -   -   Flower appearance/arrangement.—Single campanulate flowers;             solitary or in clusters; terminal and axillary. Freely             flowering habit with 64 to 192 flowers developing per             lateral branch. Flowers face upright to outwardly.         -   Fragrance.—Slight, pleasant.         -   Flower longevity.—Flowers last for about three to seven days             on the plant. Flowers not persistent.         -   Natural flowering season.—Long flowering period, plants             typically flower from June to September in Michigan.         -   Flower diameter.—About 1.8 cm.         -   Flower depth.—About 2.8 cm.         -   Flower bud.—Length: About 1 cm. Diameter: About 3 mm. Shape:             Obovate. Color: Close to 145A tinged with close to 46A.         -   Petals.—Arrangement/quantity: Single whorl of five fused             petals. Lobe length: About 7 mm. Lobe width: About 5 mm.             Shape: Oblong. Apex: Obtuse. Margin: Entire. Texture, upper             surface: Slightly pubescent. Texture, lower surface: Smooth,             glabrous. Color: When opening and fully opened, upper             surface: Close to 155D. When opening and fully opened, lower             surface: Close to 155D.         -   Sepals.—Quantity/arrangement: About four to five in a single             whorl. Length: About 8 mm. Width: About 3 mm. Shape:             Narrowly elliptic. Apex: Acute to obtuse. Base: Cuneate.             Margin: Entire. Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth,             glabrous. Color, immature, upper and lower surfaces: Close             to 145C. Color, mature, upper and lower surfaces: Close to             52A to 52B.         -   Peduncles.—Length: About 3 mm. Diameter: About 1 mm.             Strength: Strong, flexible. Texture: Smooth, glabrous.             Angle: About 10° from the stem axis. Color: Close to 46A.         -   Reproductive organs.—Stamens: Quantity per flower: About             four. Anther length: About 2 mm. Anther color: Close to             155D. Pollen amount: Scarce. Pollen color: Close to 155B.             Pistils: Pistil length: About 2 cm. Stigma shape: Round.             Stigma color: Close to 155D. Style length: About 1.4 cm.             Style color: Close to 155D.         -   Seeds/fruits.—Seed and fruit development have not been             observed on plants of the new Abelia plant. -   Garden performance: Plants of the new Abelia have been observed to     have excellent garden performance and to tolerate rain, wind and     temperatures ranging from about −20° C. to about 37° C. -   Pathogen/pest resistance: Plants of the new Abelia have not been     shown to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to Abelia. 

1. A new and distinct Abelia plant named ‘Rika 1’ as illustrated and described. 